Fountain pen pressure bar



April 5, 1932. H. K. sTEMPE'L FOUNTAIN PEN PRESSURE BAR Filed Oct. 20. 1930 30 6 is composed of Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE HERMAN x. srmviPEL. or FRTMADISON IOWA, AssI'GNoRTo w. A. SHEAFFER :PEN

COMPANY, OIE' FORT MADSON,IOWA, A GORPORAJION OF DELAWARE FOUNTAIN PEN rREssURn :BAR

Application vfiled. October 20, 1930. Serial No. 489,721.

This invention relates to a fountain pen and has special reference to an actuating lever for uniformly compressing the elastic ink tube of a fountain pen.

5 VMore particularly, this invention relates to an actuating lever for fountain pens employing an elastic tube or reservoir for compressmg the tube to create a vacuum therein, suction being established through the pen holder L sectionduring the expansion of the tube l struction comprising a double Abar formed of a single sheet of material including a resilient outer arm and an inner rigid arm eX- tending from a resilient annular band or split ring which is designed to lit within and fric- 'tionally engage the outer end of the barrel of the fountain pen. Y

ln the prior art applicant has knowledge of actuating levers for compressing the elastic ink sacks or reservoirs wherein should the double bar type be employed the same lis `formed of separate pieces as, `for example, with reference to the Sheaffer Patent No. 1,118,240 dated November 24, 1914:, owned by the assignee of the present invention, the bar a resilient arm and a rigid arm riveted or otherwise fixed to the free end 'of the resilient arm. In the present application, out of the same piece of material, rigidityvmay be had in one element of the compound lever while a resiliency may be retained 'in 4the other element thereof. As a result hereof there is no assembly necessary in the manufacture of the device; it is more compact allowing for a greater Vand nearly normal expansion vof the ink sackin the barrel by reason of the two elements lying substantially in the same plane; the construction is comparatively easy to adjust and is light in weight;

One of theobjects of this invention is to provide a compound actuating lever for compressing an elastic ink tube or reservoir in a fountain pen which lever may be formed of a single piece ofzmaterialthereby eliminating a subsequent assembly of parts inthe manufacture thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for the purpose described above in which the weight of the component parts of the actuating lever is relieved from the elastic ink tube.

A still further object of this invention is to 'provide a device of the type referred to abo-Ve which will occupy a minimum of space whereby to permit of a' maximum eXp-ansionof the ink sack.v Y v Also,`it is the object'o'f this Vinvention to provide a device of the type indicated above which is easier yto adjust and is of a minimum weight. Y y p Other objects'and advantages will hereinafter be more particularly pointed out Vand fora more complete understanding of the characteristic features'of this invention reference may now be had to the following description when read together with the accompanying drawings, in which latter;

Figurel is a central longitudinal sectional View of a pen equipped with the device of this invention showing the same in an operative 'condition with the ink sack compressed;

Fig. Q'is a View 'similar to :Figure 1 with the device of this invention in an inoperative position showing the ink sack in an expanded condition; i

Fig. Bis' a plan elevational view of the device o'fthis invention disassociated from the Vfountain pen 5 Fig. t is a sectional view taken on the line Fig.`5 .is an end elevational viewvof Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 1s a perspective view of the actuating lever showing an operative position thereof with the rigid arm moved away from its' with an elongated longitudinally extending slotlrbetween the walls of which is kpivoted an -operatingleverv 14 on a pin l'iix'ed in the side walls. or closed position preferablyextends the full length of the slot 13. A slight depression 1n the barrel or other suitable provisionis made at one end of the slot in order that the thumb nail maybe inserted beneath one end of the sa'idban'd 18 vat 'a point 'eorrugation 21 extending `verl lever so as to raise the same, the other end of theA lever being forced downwardly to compress the ink sack as will hereinafter be more particularly described. .The actuating lever which also serves as a lever holding device is shownin the form of a vdouble bar VVwhich is removably mounted within the casingbetween the ink reservoir v-11 and the inner wall of the casing adjacent the sl0t.1.3.;The actuatinglever comprises a resilient closed-forl-shaped arm member L.which we Vwill hereinaftercallthe .outer arm 16 and a rigid bar or arm 17 formed fromthe material between the cl'osed-forlarm. The resilient outer arm 16 is preferablyformed integrally with` a resilient annular band or split, ring .18, which latter is designed to lit within and lfric'tionally yengage theV outer or closedV end of `the barrel 10 and hold the actuating lever in an operative yposition within the casing. As shown in .the drawings, this outer arm, 16, rtogether ywith the inner rigid arm 17 is formed as atongue extending from substantially midway between its ends and isthen bent laterally inwardly as at 20 and then forwardly .betweenthe curved arms ofthe band. The

outer arm 'lisof a length slightly less than the length of theres'ervoir or ink sack 11 which it is designed to'compress. j

,Y In order to form the outer resilient arm Vportions and the rigid inner larmL from the single tongue extending from the split band 18, the armfY 1 '7visr serrated Yfrein :the tongue and deformed inwardly towarduthe axis of the barrelwhen viewed in lateral cross section and is provided with Yan elongated single y substantially ,thegentire length thereof for giving the arm its necessary rigidity. -By reason ofthis above described deformation or corrug'ation,

as itimay more commonly'be described, the

arm 174 is rigid although forming a part'of Aand extending lfrom the free end ofthe resilient arm portions 16.

The `formation of ythe inner rigid 'arm 17 out of the material between th'earm 16 provides. an opening through which the lower en'dof the lever v14 is designed to extend when The lever when in its rn'crmal' moved through the slot 13. The shorter end of the lever 14 engages the rigid arm 17, which, as we have hereinbefore mentioned, normally rests -in a substantial plane with the outer resilient arm portion 16 against the inner wall of Ythe barrel and depresses the same against the ink lsack until, the lever abutsagainst a stop 19 preferablyformed upwardly from the material of thearm. The bar or arm V17,V bein-g rigid, compresses evenly and uniformly the ink sack Ythroiighont the entire length thereof. The resiliency of the outer arm 16 is sufficient to cause it to spring outwardly againstthe inner face of the bar rel 10 when the pressure of the lever 14 is withdrawn, the latter action being accomplished by pushing the outwardly extending end of the lever downwardly against the outer wall, and prevents the weight/of the vlever" and bars or ink sack 1l. `Also the resilience of the arm 16 holds the lever 14 in a closed position in the slot 13. The present construction thus holds the actuating lever `in either open or closed position without the aid lof thetube or reservoir.

As a result of'thisinventiomit will'b'e seen l that the actuating lever maybe maintained closely against the side wall Yof the casing to make take theweight of the construction together with Vthe operating lever 14 oft' of `the ink sack. This constructionfalso facilitates lthe readyl removal 'and application rof the reservoir 1l. Further, resilience of the arms of the actuating lever causes the operating lever 14 to snugly engage the ,wall of `"the slot to prevent any loosening'therein wherehythe lever might 'catch on the po'cket ofthe user and cause considerable noyance. Again, the compound device may be'stamped quite easily from afsinglefpiece "of material thereby `'obviating assembly 'of parts which heretofore has y''ejeinne'cessary, in 'so Ifar as applicant is aware, in'providing a LConstruction whereinfa 1'lfiniform cenipi'e'ssien is obtained over thefull length o( the inksack. Also, by providing@ 'cdnstructionfwherein a singlemember'may bel serrated and a. portion thereof deformed to provide ran 'arm having ka corrugation for purposes'- of rigidity andy a resilient arm,

die device may 'be lof a *minimum weight. By reason of the latter, l"the construction is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture due to saving' lin both 'material and labor. Y Vhile buta single'einbodinentof'this invention `is herein 7shn'vn ami described, it vis to be understood that various modiii'atins may be apparent to l'those Tskilled Vin the art withoutuepartiing the-spirit an cope 'only to bie limited bythe "stripe 'er the frior anandthe'appnded'elaiiaa from resting lon the reservoir Vthe "saine more 4compactand valso to inconvenience and an- 4' A.for providing a rigid I claim: A

1. In combination with a fountain pen having a hollow casing with an operating lever mounted in a longitudinal slot therein and a compressible ink reservoir inserted within said casing, of means for compressing said reservoir including integrally formed resilient and rigid arm members, said lever operating to engage and to depress said rigid arm, said resilient arm causing a return to a normal inoperative position of said compressing means upon the release of said lever.

2. In combination with a fountain pen having a hollow casing with an operating lever mounted in a longitudinal slot therein and a compressible ink reservoir inserted within said casing, of means for compressing said reservoir including a strip of resilient material having a portion thereof serrated and deformed to provide an armvmember, said arm memberhaving means for holding the same rigid, said lever operating to engage and to depress said rigid arm, said remaining resilient portion causing a return to a normal inoperative position of said compressing means upon the release of said lever.

3. In combination with a fountain pen having a hollow casing with an operating lever mounted in a longitudinal slot therein and a compressible ink reservoir inserted within said casing, of means for compressing said reservoir including a strip of resilient material having a portion thereof serrated, said serrated portion being provided with an elongated corrugation to provide a rigid arm member, said lever operating to engage and to depress said rigid arm, said remaining resilient portion causing a return to a normal inoperative position of said compressing means upon the release of said lever.

4. In combination with a fountain pen having a hollow casing with an operating lever mounted in a longitudinal slot therein and a compressible ink reservoir inserted within said casing, of means for compressing said reservoir including a strip of resilient material having a portion thereof formed into a split band to snugly engage the inner side walls of said casing and another portion serrated, said serrated portion having means arm member, said lever operating to engage and to depress said rigid arm, said remaining resilient portion causing a return to a normal inoperative position of said compressing means upon the release of said lever. 1

5. In combination with a fountain pen having a hollow casing with an operating i lever mounted in a longitudinal slot therein and a compressible ink reservoir inserted within said casing, of means for compressing said reservoir including a strip of resilient material Xed at one end and having an intermediate portion thereof serrated, said serrated portion having means for providing a rigid arm member, said lever operating to engage and to depresssai'd rigid arm through the slot formed by the serration of said arm, said remaining resilient Lportion causing a return to a normal inoperative position of said compressing means upon the release of said lever. Y

6. In combination with a fountain pen having a hollow casing with an operating lever mounted in a longitudinal slot therein and Va compressible ink reservoir inserted .within said casing, of means for compressing said reservoir including a strip of resilient material fixed at one end and having an intermediate portion thereof serrated to provide van arm member extending from the free end thereof, saidfarm4 member having 'means for holding the same rigid, said lever operating to engage and to depress said rigid arm through the slot formed by the serration of the material for said arm, said remaining resilient portion causing a return to a normal inoperative position of saidcon'l pressing means upon the release of said lever.

7. In combination with a fountain pen having a hollow casing with an operating lever mounted in a longitudinal slot therein and a compressible inl; reservoir inserted within said casing, of means lfor compressing said reservoir including integrally formed resilient and rigid arm members, said lever operating to engage and to 'depress said rigid arm, and a stop formed integrally with said rigid arm for engagement by said lever to hold the same iii an open position, said resilient arm causing a return to a normal inoperative position of said compressing means upon the release of said lever.

8. In combination with a fountain pen having a hollow casing and a compressible ink reservoir therein, of means for compressing said reservoir including integrally formed resilient and rigid arm members, said rigid arm being adapted to operate said compressing means out of a normal condition and said resilient arm permitting a return to a normal position of said compressing means after being operated upon by said rigid arm.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

HERMAN K. STEMPEL. 

